Japan is to recognise the State of Palestinian and increase aid to UNRWA, Quds Press reported a senior Palestinian official saying yesterday.

Speaking to media, senior aide to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Shaath, said Japan had pledged to support the Palestinian right to create an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital during the latest talks between the two countries.

Japan, according to Shaath, rejected US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

He also noted that Japan would start collecting signatures from MPs who would call for the government to recognise the State of Palestine, then raise its diplomatic representation in Ramallah and conclude with full recognition.